No Lack of Intrigue in Packed Juvenile Turf

Five European colts sporting excellent form will face nine North American colts in a full field for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3.

The Juvenile Turf attracted Bluegrass Equine Bloodstock's Joha, the lone grade I winner in the field off of his victory in the Oct. 6 Breeders' Futurity on Polytrack at Keeneland. Trained by Mike Maker, Joha previously finished second, a head behind Balance the Books, in the With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga Race Course.

Joha, by Johar, drew post 10 and will be ridden by Javier Castellano in the one-mile Juvenile Turf.

Balance the Books, owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, won the grade III Bourbon Stakes on the grass at Keeneland after his With Anticipation victory. Trained by Chad Brown, Balance the Books, by Lemon Drop Kid, drew post 8 and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux, who rode him to his two victories.

All five of the European colts have won or placed in group stakes, including George Vancouver, a colt by Henrythenavigator who finished a close second in the group I Darley Prix Morny in France and third in the group I Dubai Dewhurst Stakes in Great Britain for trainer Aidan O'Brien. George Vancouver, owned by Magnier, Tabor, and Smith, drew post 3 and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

Two of the 14 in the Juvenile Turf—Gervinho (post 4) and Noble Tune (post 9)—are undefeated.

Keith Brackpool's Gervinho, trained by Carla Gaines, broke his maiden at Del Mar and won the Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita at one mile on the turf in his two starts. Gervinho, by Unusual Heat, drew post 4 and will be ridden again by Rafael Bejarano.

Martin Schwartz and Dell Ridge Farm's Noble Tune, also two-for-two, broke his maiden on the turf at Saratoga and won the grade III Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park on the grass in his last start. Also trained by Brown, Noble Tune, by Unbridled's Song, will be ridden again by Ramon Dominguez.

The Juvenile Turf is the first Breeders' Cup race on the Saturday card at Santa Anita.